The Library appreciates the ongoing generosity of the Foundation whose donations have funded Sunday
hours at the Main Library, the reopening of the Bellevue Branch on
Mondays, Youth Services' Summer Reading Club, and the purchase of books
and audio-visual materials in 2011.Click on this link to support the Foundation.

Montclair
Public Library’s adult programming series, featuring critically
acclaimed authors in new fiction and non-fiction, continues on July 10.

The
library invites the public to attend its With the Authors series, as
the creators themselves bring their books to life with readings,
discussions, and book signings.

Brad Parks, The Good Cop Wednesday, July 10 at 7 pmFourth in a stellar mystery series, The Good Cop
has been called “a tautly written page-turner with charm and humor, a
terrific combination that is sure to appeal to David Rosenfelt and Janet
Evanovich fans” (Booklist). Discover the inspiration behind Brad Parks’
Newark-based series when the author, winner of the Nero, Lefty, and
Shamus Awards for his series, joins us to talk about his latest book and
his transition from Star-Ledger journalist to award-winning fiction
author.

Caroline Leavitt, Is This TomorrowWednesday, August 7 at 7 pmNew York Times-bestselling author Leavitt (Pictures of You)
visits the library to discuss her newest novel. Exploring small-town
prejudice in 1950s suburbia with Leavitt’s signature grace and nuance, Is This Tomorrow examines the lasting effect of suburban American values against the backdrop of a shocking childhood tragedy.

All
programs are free and open to the public. Author visits are held in the
library auditorium. The library is handicapped accessible. Books by the
authors will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of Watchung
Booksellers.

Summertime, and the living is easy: it’s the time to reward yourself by relaxing with a good book…and now the MPL wants to reward you, too!Our
summer reading program is always one of our favorite events, and this
year, we want adults to get inspired, and get involved, all summer long!

Here’s
how it works: starting June 28, program participants must visit the
Reference Desk on the second floor of the Main Library to create their
virtual logs, and they’ll receive their first prize – a coupon for five
free books from the MPL book sale.After
participants reach the five-book mark, they receive a raffle entry for
our grand prize: a $50 Amazon gift card! When they reach ten books, they
receive another prize – a reusable “Read” tote bag, plus another coupon
for five free books and another raffle entry. Participants who read
past ten books earn another raffle entry for every additional five books
they log in.Members
of the adult summer reading program who are also fans of the Montclair
Public Library on Facebook will have even more chances to win: starting
in July, we’ll be posting exclusive content to our Facebook followers
that will earn them additional raffle entries!The summer reading program ends on September 9,
when we announce our raffle winners: our top winner receives the $50
Amazon gift card, donated by the Montclair Public Library Foundation,
and our second and third place readers will each receive a $25 gift
certificate to Watchung Booksellers, who have donated the certificates
to the reading program!So read big, win big, and dig in!Thank
you to our sponsors, the Montclair Public Library Foundation and
Watchung Booksellers, whose support makes summer reading possible!For more information on signing up for Groundbreaking Reads, please contact the Reference Department at 973-744-0500, ext. 2235, visit our website at www.montclairlibrary.org, and be sure to follow us on Facebook. Click here for Summer Reading Club Homepage.

Friends of the Bellevue Avenue Library Present:Music Monday

6 to 8 pmOn the plaza in front of the Bellevue Avenue Branch Library.Free and open to the public.

July 15Dr. Julian Keenan

July 22William Mallory

July 28The Michael Reitman Band

Not inpsired by the usual "beach reads"? Check out these new works of non-fiction.

A Million Years with You: A Memoir of Life Observed By Thomas, Elizabeth MarshallOne
of the nation's greatest literary naturalists, now in her eighth
decade, turns her famed observational eye on herself and explores why
and how an untrained, self-taught observer and writer could see things
that anthropologists and zoologists often missed.

Bootstrapper: From Broke to Badass on a Northern Michigan Farm By Link, Mardi JoPoignant,
irreverent, and hilarious: the memoir of a mother who, after ending her
19-year marriage, staves off a perpetually empty bank account and, with
the help of her three young sons, saves her century-old farmhouse from
foreclosure and reclaims her life.

Run, Brother, Run: A Memoir of a Murder in My Family By Berg, DavidFrom
a renowned trial lawyer comes a searing family memoir of a wild boyhood
in Texas that led to the vicious murder of the author's brother by
actor Woody Harrelson's father, Charles. Alan was only 31 when he
disappeared and for more than six months his family did not know what
had happened to him until his remains were found in a ditch in Texas.

Summer StorytimesBabies in the LibraryBabies
meet babies! Parents and caregivers sing nursery rhymes and share board
books with their babies. Songs and board books will be introduced
during each session. Make baby’s first library experience a special one!
Children of all abilities welcome.Registration required.Babies Newborn – 23 Mos.Monday, July 29 at 11:00 a.m.

Toddler TimeTwo-year-olds
and the adults in their lives explore language and numbers through
stories. Picture books, flannel board stories, nursery rhymes and finger
plays are used to introduce the pleasures of books. Children of all
abilities welcome.Registration required. 2 year-olds.Monday, July 15 at 11:00 a.m.

Mother GooseMother
Goose promotes literacy among our preschool-aged patrons. Picture
books, flannel board stories, songs and puppets are used to build upon
children’s natural enthusiasm for books and reading. Children of all
abilities welcome.Registration required. Ages 3 to 6.Monday, July 22 at 11:00 a.m.

Story & Craft Tuesdays

Dig into DinosaursRAWR!!!
Have dinosaurs invaded the Montclair Public Library!? Stop by and make
your very own dinosaur egg! While you wait for your dinosaur to hatch
you can make a pair of dinosaur foam feet to stomp around as we listen
to our favorite dinosaur books. Get ready for dino-mite fun!Registration required. Ages 6 to 11.Tuesday, July 16 at 3:00 p.m.

Wiggly WormsYou
are cordially invited to enjoy crafts, stories, and games about
ooey-gooey worms. Spoil your dinner by making worms-in-the-dirt snacks
too!Registration required; please advise us of any food allergies when registering. Ages 6 to 11.Tuesday, July 30 at 3:00 p.m.

Wednesday WorkshopsNorth Star Songs: Symbols of the Underground RailroadListen
to Jeanette Winter's Follow the Drinking Gourd, Doreen Rappaport's
Freedom River, and other stories. Learn the symbols and meanings hidden
in music and folk art used by the secret heroes of the Underground
Railroad. Afterwards enjoy acoustic blues and traditional songs which
helped so many escape to freedom.Registration required. Ages 6 and up.Wednesday, July 10 at 3:00 p.m.

Exploring Earth Colors: Montclair Art Museum WorkshopA
staff member from the Montclair Art Museum teaches how to use sandpaper
and pastels to create art that explores the distinctive colors beneath
the soil.Registration required. Ages 2 to 5.Wednesday, July 17 at 3:00 p.m.

Digging Deep Puzzle: Montclair Art Museum WorkshopUsing
a blank puzzle and your imagination, create a piece of art that digs
deep into the natural world around us. You’ll go home with your unique
puzzle and a pouch for safe keeping.Registration required. Ages 6 to 8.Wednesday, July 24 at 3:00 p.m.

Creatable Edible ArtAre you always being told to not play with your food? This time it’s okay as we make colorful dreamy art out of tasty snacks!Registration required. Ages 4 and up.Wednesday, July 31 at 3:00 p.m.

Thursday EventsDomino the Great: Dig into Reading Magic ShowDomino
the Great delivers an action packed show of eye-popping magic tricks
for kids and their families. This magic show includes much audience
participation and laughter for all. After the show perform magic of your
own by making books fly off the shelves! Domino the Great is a
professional kids’ magician who has performed throughout the Tri-State
area and even the White House!Registration required. Ages 4 and up.AuditoriumThursday, July 11 at 12:00 p.m.

Montclair Film Festival presents: The GooniesThe
Montclair Film Festival brings The Goonies to their outdoor screen!
Enjoy this classic adventure as the Goonies explore a secret
subterranean lair, outwit kidnappers, find a long-lost treasure aboard a
ghostly pirate vessel, and save their town from destruction. Goonies
never say die! Rated PG. Directed by Richard Donner. Starring Sean Astin
and Josh Brolin.Outdoor patio in front of Montclair Public Library; Terra Tea Salon will be open for refreshments.*Thursday, July 18 at 8:00 p.m.Live music at 8pm, movie begins at 9pm; rain date Friday, July 19.

Finding King Tut: A Family Stages ShowBritish
archaeologist Howard Carter has been sifting through Egypt’s Valley of
the Kings for years in search of Tutankhamen’s tomb. His partner urges
him to quit but, after making one more effort, Carter discovers a
mysterious stairway. Digging through 3000 years of sand and rock, he
reaches a door marked with the sign of King Tut! Celebrate imagination
with this unique Family Stages production. Kids will love this dynamic
play's fast-paced action and lightning-quick costume changes.Registration required. Ages 4 and up.AuditoriumThursday, July 25 at 12:00 p.m.

Bonjour Madeline: A ‘Oui, Oui, Je Speak Franglais’ Story & CraftEmefa
Duho reads Ludwig Bemelmans’ classic picture book Madeline in French
and in English followed by an arts & crafts session. Families are
welcome to dress à la française in honor of Bastille Day! Emefa Duho is
the founder of Oui, Oui, Je Speak Franglais, a bicultural awareness
campaign which promotes French-American initiatives.No registration required. Ages 3 to 9.Friday, July 12 at 3:00 p.m.

Dig into History: An Israel Crane House Archeological DigAs
part of Montclair Public Library’s summer reading events, the Montclair
Historical Society invites you to dig into history by visiting the
Israel Crane House. Learn how people lived over two hundred years ago by
uncovering the history of Montclair beneath our feet. Kids will take
part in an outdoor dig, find remnants of artifacts in the ground, and go
to the historic home to discover what these pieces of artifacts may
have come from. Afterwards it’s a visit to the farm site with the
chickens!Registration required. Ages 3 to 5.Israel Crane House, 108 Orange Road, Montclair; parking available on site. Friday, July 19 at 11:00 a.m.

Teen ProgramPhenomenon: The Magic of AmoreDo
you believe in ESP and power of the mind? Is it possible to foretell
the future, move objects with your will or read someone's mind? The
answers to these questions can be found in Amore's magic workshop for
teens. Magician Amore presents profound and unbelievable events in a
fast-paced format. This unique performance makes teens the stars of the
show. Amore uses volunteers throughout the performance for astounding
demonstrations of the mind and body while incorporating psychology and
parapsychology. Envision breaking a light bulb simply by thinking about
it, predict lottery numbers, float a table in mid-air, foresee the
future, see a demonstration of the human lie detector and more!
Phenomenon will make you believe in the uncharted power of your own
mind!Registration required. Teens Grades 6-12.AuditoriumThursday, July 18 at 3:00 p.m.

Bellevue Avenue Branch ProgramsDig It: A Mini Storytime with a Gigantic Digger Join
us for a reading of Virginia Lee Burton's 1939 classic, Mike Mulligan
and His Steam Shovel. Immediately afterwards, we will go to the
library's parking lot to meet one of Montclair's very own diggers. Rain
or shine so please dress appropriately. The digger will remain at the
Branch until 3:30pm. No registration required. Digger provided courtesy of Montclair's Department of Community Services.All ages welcomeTuesday, July 16 at 2:15 p.m.

Dig Into Classical Music City
Winds Duo musicians will play a variety of pieces including some from
famous operas in this fun interactive program. Participants will play
movement games, identify and build melodies, and try their hand at
different percussion instruments as they learn about rhythm and other
musical forms. Registration required. Recommended ages 4 to 10.Wednesday July 17 at 6:00 p.m.

The Habits and Habitats of NJ Bats: A Family Nature ProgramBats
are one of the most beneficial animals to humans but are also one of
the most misunderstood and feared. Learn about the habits and habitats
of these incredible flying mammals and their importance in the
environment. Children will make and take home their very own ‘pet bat.’Registration required. Recommended ages 5 to 10.Wednesday, July 31 at 6:00 p.m.

Photography by Laura GianniniA reception will be held for the artist on July 11 from 6 - 9pm in the gallery.

In
this show, Laura will showcase her love of mannequins reflected in
glass - images that turn into dreamscape's of curiosity and depth. The
longer you look at her images the more you see. Laura will also showcase
her photo-collages made from various objects that she puts together
making memory pieces. In this way she turns trash into treasure and
manipulates it to create her art work. Laura likes the entire process of
reusing and then recycling things to stay artistically green! Laura's
portraits try to capture certain moments, be they whimsical, funny or
sad - or something that just catches her eye. Laura says that the lenses
she uses are her two eyes! So what she sees is what you get.

Join the MPL for A Touch of Sinatra

Tuesday, July 30, 7 pmAuditorium

Hoboken
native Frank Sinatra (1915-1998) rose to fame singing big band numbers.
In the '40s and '50s, he had a dazzling array of hit songs and albums
and went on to appear in dozens of films, winning an Oscar for From Here
to Eternity. He left behind a massive catalog of work that includes
iconic songs like "Fly Me to the Moon," “My Way,” and "New York, New
York."Sinatra is considered the greatest singer of the twentieth
century, and this hour-plus show is performed by Donnie Farraro, one of
the most authentic-sounding Frank Sinatra lookalikes in the industry
today, and narrated by Joe Gilligan. Listen as they share the story of
Sinatra’s life, the songs that made him famous, and the funny stories
and jokes that together will provide one of the most entertaining
evenings that you will experience!

"This
constant succession of glasses, produced considerable effect upon Mr.
Pickwick; his countenance beamed with the most sunny smiles, laughter
played around his lips, and good-humoured merriment twinkled in his
eye."-Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers

"Grape Expectations"

Saturday, September 28, 2013

A Unique Food and Wine Event With A Literary Twist!

With Special Guest Eric Asimov,Chief Wine Critic for The New York Times

The Montclair Public Library Foundation's fun and fabulous "Grapes" Fundraiser
dates back to 2006. At this semi-annual event, 350 citizens of
Montclair gather over great wine to support their local library. With
your support, the proceeds will go to fund the library's materials and
programming. MPL is the town's only public community center, making
books and computers accessible to all.

Eric Asimov, author and chief wine critic at The New York Times, will speak during the evening and help curate the wines, with local wine-seller Amanti Vino. This year's event, "Grape Expectations,"
will pay homage to Charles Dickens, with delicious culinary creations
inspired by his novels. Montclair's top chefs will create modern
interpretations of everything from a taste of the Christmas Carol feast
to Oliver Twist's "gruel"--an amazing selection of Food, Glorious Food!

Write Group ShowcaseAuditoriumTuesday, July 16 at 7- 8:30 pmShowcasing WG readers in various genres. WGies wishing to be considered to read in the Showcase contact Carl Selinger at selinger99@aol.com by 7/9. Open Mic is after the Showcase; sign-up starts at 6:45 pm to read a piece up to 8 minutes long. Info from emcee Jeannee Margolskee at jpmar@usa.net.

Free-For-All (FFA) for WritersConference Roomevery Thursday night, 7 - 8:45 pm7/11Poetry Study Group led by Tara Moyle
We've elected to discuss "10 Poems to Shout from the Streets," based on
Sam White's readings in Times Square. So the big news is that there is
homework for this next meeting! Find ten (10) published poems that
you love - maybe you've studied them before, maybe you heard them and
became intrigued, or maybe you found them browsing an anthology of poems
in the library or online. Then, just bring a copy of those poems. They
can be poems from any country, time period, or style (poems by someone
other than yourself). We will read as many as possible - out loud of
course! There should be time for us to each read two of our selections,
depending on the number of participants. I will make a compilation list
for the group of everyone's poems so that we all have some good summer
reading. Here's one site to peruse if you're not sure where to start: http://www.poets.org/. Montclair Library also has some great anthologies. This group is for people who love words, not just poetry! 7/18 Laura Freedgood Insider’s Look at 1973 best-selling thriller The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3.
Laura, Write Group member, Montclair poet, daughter of the author John
Godey, who wrote the book, a major motion picture in the 1970’s,
presents an “insider’s” look into the creation of the book. Discussion
will include Godey’s growth as a writer, and examination of the book’s
structure (advancing the plot, character development, creating tension
in a thriller). Time permitting, there will be a brief talk about the
differences between the 1970’s film and its remake in 2009.7/25 Writing humor and satire: Author Hank Quense
It isn’t easy, and Hank has been doing it for a dozen years in his
short stories and novels. During the time, he’s figured out what works
and what doesn't work, and will share and discuss. More info from Hank
at hankquense@icloud.com.